Catamenial pants



July 23, 1963 J. M. YOUNGER 3,098,484

CATAMENIAL PANTS Filed Jan. 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGS July 23, 1963 J. M. YOUNGER 3,093,484

CATAMENIAL PANTS Filed Jan. 3, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOJ 4414864857 )ZUVEZ BY y pz United States Patent 3,098,484 CATAMENIAL PANTS Joy Margaret Younger, Sacramento, Calif, assignor to Mensa, Incorporated, a corporation of California Filed Jan. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 80,501 Claims. (Cl. 128-291) The invention relates to panties or other articles exhibiting an interwoven web type elastic 11% rubber which can be of any knovm type of materials used and manufactured, known as web elastic. These catamenial pants are preferably constructed as a one unit garment and include a web type elastic of 11% rubber running glrgillgh the crotch section from center front, to center This invention will serve a special purpose as set forth and be an improvement over any known item on the market for women at menstruation periods each month or heavy discharge times when protection through use of sanitary pads is needed. It is not a regular pair of panties, neither is it a girdle as the elastic action is from center front to center back extending through, and supporting the crotch. This is not a sanitary belt as no metal objects are needed.

It is an object of this invention, to eliminate metals next to the skin. It is a further object of the invention to prevent lumps or bulges which are visible on tight outer garments for women.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in the embodiment described in the following description and shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the inner side of the front half, or front panel, of the pants;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the inner side of the rear half, or rear panel, of the pants;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan View, to an enlarged scale, of the crotch portion of the pants;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view, to a still further enlarged scale, of the right hand portion of FIGURE 3, and showing a strip of web elastic joined to the pants fabric; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the catamenial pants to an enlarged scale.

While the catamenial pants of the invention are susceptible of numerous physical embodiments, depending on the environment and requirements of use, substantial numbers of the herein shown and described embodiment have been made, tested and used, and all have performed in an eminently satisfactory manner.

The catamenial pants of the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 5, includes a pair of panties having, in conventional style, a fabric mainbody portion 6 comprising a front panel 7 and a rear panel 8, the panels 7 and 8 being ordinarily joined along the opposed vertical side seams, 9 and 10, respectively.

Extending around the upper margin of the main body portion 6 of the pants is an elastic waist band 11 of a suitable dimension, such as 1% inches in width.

From the lower edge of the elastic waist band on the front panel, extending downwardly, across the crotch and upwardly to the elastic waist band on the rear panel is an elastic Web member 16. The member 16 is inserted between the adjacent margins 17 of the pant fabric 18. The member 16 comprises an interwoven section of web type elastic which can be a combination of cotton, rayon, nylon or other fibers with the rubber content of 11%. This web elastic 11% rubber is known on the market in other widths today and it has been found that this gauge of rubber content provides comfort and the best tension for the support wanted. This web elastic is to be used also in the 1% inch waistband 11. The elastic web in this garment will sustain pressure enough in the crotch section of the 2 /2 inch web elastic member 16 running from center front to center back, to maintain a snug upward pressure needed for the staying in place of the sanitary pad.

It is recommended that this web elastic be knitted into these garments at the time of manufacture by change of threads at the proper point of construction which is known process in the manufacturing industries. This interwoven web elastic is not to be attached to the top of, or sewn underneath the inside of, already made garments.

Examples of types of materials for the elastic Webbing are as follows: cotton 52%, rayon 32% and rubber 11%, these being in common knowledge to manufacturers. The application of a piece of Velcro type tape 23 or any adhesive fabric in the size of 2 inches wide and 2 inches high, is sometimes preferred. In this situation, one piece is located 4 inches from the bottom of the 1% inch waist band on the front of the 2 /2 inch web elastic section, and the other piece is placed 5 inches below the bottom of the 1% inch waist band on the back of the web elastic member 16 which runs from center front to center back through the crotch section. This feature is optional but under some circumstances will aid the staying in place of the sanitary pad if desired. Any fabric with adhering quality may be used, these being known. At the crotch section the leg bands 31 can be either woven fabric, or elastic and attached to the elastic webbing which runs from center front through the crotch section to the center back.

FIGURE 3 shows a plan view of the crotch section between the leg openings 30 defined by an elastic trim 31, and showing how the web elastic 16 forms a continuous band across the crotch portion; and FIGURE 4 illustrates the transverse gathers 21 in the web 16, enabling the material to stretch in a direction normal to the direction of the gathers. The gathers 21 also serving as frictional members which retain a sanitary pad placed in face to face engagement therewith.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. Catarnenial pants for retaining a sanitary napkin in position against a wearers body, comprising a fabric main body portion, an elastic waist band extending around the upper margin of said body portion, and continuous elastic web inserted in said body portion and extending from the front of said waist band, through the crotch to support said napkin and to the rear of said waist band, said web being attached on its opposite lateral margins to the adjacent margins of the fabric main body portion.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said pants include leg bands defining the leg openings thereof and said web extends substantially entirely across the narrowest portion of said crotch and is secured at either side thereof to the adjacent edges of said leg bands, and wherein said web includes a plurality of transverse gathers.

3. The device of claim 2 further characterized by an adhesive piece of fabric secured to the inner surface of said web, said adhesive fabric being capable of forming a frictional engagement with a sanitary pad in contact therewith.

4. As an article of personal wear, a pair of panties adapted to support a sanitary napkin, said panties having an elastic waist band and including a fabric main body portion divided into a pair of laterally spaced portions, the opening between said spaced portions being occupied by an elastic web extending through the crotch of said panties from the forward portion of said waist band to the after portion thereof, said web being aflixed to the adjacent margins of said laterally spaced portions.

5. A catamenial device comprising an elastic waist References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rand Mar. 16, Bennet Jan. 11, Norton July 5, Sabo June 28, Haber Nov. 11, 

1. CATAMENIAL PANTS FOR RETAINING A SANITARY NAPKIN IN POSITION AGAINST A WEARER''S BODY, COMPRISING A FABRIC MAIN BODY PORTION, AN ELASTIC WAIST BAND EXTENDING AROUND THE UPPER MARGIN OF SAID BODY PORTION, AND CONTINUOUS ELASTIC WEB INSERTED IN SAID BODY PORTION AND EXTENDING FROM THE FRONT OF SAID WAIST BAND, THROUGH THE CROTCH TO 